Reeded sound-making device

ABSTRACT

A reeded game call or other reeded sound-making device. End portions of a sounding board and a reed are wedged in a tubular housing with the reed end portion disposed on surface of the sounding board end portion, and the end portions extend therefrom into a mouthpiece with the sounding board supporting the reed for vibration thereof to make wild game sounds. In order to prevent stickage of the reed to the sounding board due to moisture, the sounding board comprises a pair of wall portions which extend from width-defining margins of an elongate floor portion and which terminate in edges against which the reed vibrates. The sounding board end portion surface is disposed above the sounding board edges so that the reed does not engage the sounding board edges adjacent the sounding board end portion thereby to alleviate sticking of the reed to the sounding board edges due to moisture at this position adjacent the sounding board end portion.

[0001] The present invention relates generally to game calls and other sound-making devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to game calls or other devices of a type which utilize a reed to make sounds such as the sounds of wild game such as, for example, deer.

[0002] In a reeded game call, one end of the reed is held in place by a wedge, and the reed extends therefrom and vibrates against parallel members of a tongue or sounding or tone board or support as air is blown through an air passage trough between the parallel members. By blowing into a mouthpiece, air is caused to pass through the air passage causing the reed to vibrate for the purpose of making the desired sounds.

[0003] Conventionally, the sounding board members of such a call have been very wide, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,201, which is incorporated herein by reference. The wide sounding board members undesirably allow moisture (from the user's mouth, atmosphere, or otherwise) to build up toward the wedge end of the reed, which may cause the reed to stick and not work very well.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,039 discloses a reeded game call having transverse raised ribs and/or channels on the sounding board on both sides to the trough, which are stated to be used to divert moisture.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,798 discloses a reeded game call which has raised ridges or ribs along the tone board surface which support the reed and are therefore said to reduce reed malfunction caused by accumulation of moisture from condensate, saliva, and spittle.

[0006] Other patents which may be of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 333,094; 3,001,322; 4,940,451; 2,396,359; 3,066,444; 2,590,743; 4,737,130; 5,222,903; 2,825,180; and 4,888,903. In addition, saxophones and other musical instruments have reeds and sounding boards. A saxophone is normally played with the reed below the sounding board.

[0007] Wide sounding boards can accumulate a build-up of moisture and dust. Thus, the wide sounding board of each of the calls of the '039 and '798 patents, even though ribs or the like or placed on the sounding board surfaces, may still allow moisture along with dust and other debris to build up over time and eventually cause sticking of the vibrating reed, rendering the call ineffective.

[0008] The raised ribs of the '039 call are near the terminal end of the sounding board and thus distant from the wedge piece, and the channels are also distant from the wedge piece. However, it is believed that the major moisture stickage occurs adjacent the wedge, i.e., within about ⅛ inch thereof. The position of the raised ribs and channels in the '039 call would not allow them to be effective in removing moisture in the critical area adjacent the wedge piece.

[0009] The contact between the reed and the sounding board adjacent the wedge in the '798 call has the effect of undesirably trapping moisture between the raised ribs and the reed and the resulting sticking of the reed.

[0010] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to more effectively prevent, during hunting or other extreme conditions, the reed from sticking to any part of the sounding board of a reeded game call, including the portion thereof adjacent the wedge.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to reduce the amount of material in such a call and thus reduce the cost of manufacture thereof.

[0012] In order to more effectively prevent the reed from sticking to the sounding support of a reeded game call, in accordance with the present invention, the sounding support includes an elongate floor portion and a pair of wall portions which extend from width-defining margins respectively of the floor portion and which terminate in edges respectively against which the reed vibrates, whereby to eliminate horizontal surface which may allow build-up over time of scale from moisture and dust and other debris with the result of the reed sticking due to the moisture.

[0013] In order to more effectively prevent moisture build-up on the sounding support of a reeded game call, especially on the portion thereof adjacent the wedge, in accordance with the present invention, the attachment of an end portion of the reed to the call body or housing is at a position which is raised above the sounding support.

[0014] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game call which embodies the present invention, the sound exiting bellows thereof shown in a contracted mode.

[0016]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the bellows shown in an expanded mode.

[0017]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the call.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 4 is an end view thereof taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a partial side view thereof, with a portion cut away, taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 7 is an enlarged view thereof similar to that of FIG. 6, with no sound being made.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 showing the reed vibrating to make a sound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring to the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 a game call for calling deer, but it should be understood that a game call may be made in accordance with the principles of the present invention for calling various other wild game such as turkey or geese. It should also be understood that the principles of the present invention may be applied to sound-making devices other than calls.

[0025] The call 10 comprises a tubular body portion or housing or stopper 12 the outer diameter of which is increased intermediate the ends thereof to define an encircling band or cincture 14 which acts as a stop for fitting of components thereon as discussed hereinafter. The stopper portions 22 and 28 are of different outer diameters (the portion 22 facing surface 18 being a greater diameter than that of the other portion 28) to prevent mis-assembly. For example, portion 22 may have an outer diameter of about {fraction (11/16)} inch and a length of about 1 {fraction (3/16)} inch, and the portion 28 may have an outer diameter of about ⅝ inch and a length of about {fraction (13/16)} inch, the overall length of the stopper being, for example, about 2 {fraction (3/16)} inches. The inner diameter of portion 28 may, for example, be about ½ inch. The stopper 12 is made of a suitable material such as, for example, a clear (see-through) plastic. The stopper 12 has a uniform inner diameter providing an air passage, illustrated at 15, therethrough. The band 14 has a flat surface 16 normal to the tubular surface of the stopper 12 facing one end of the stopper 12 and the surface 18 facing the other end gradually curves and merges into the tubular surface of the stopper 12. The surfaces 16 and 18 meet at a truncation 20 (so as to be non-sharp).

[0026] Received frictionally (press fit) on the stopper 12 on one portion 22 thereof (the portion facing the cincture surface 18) is a tubular bellows or horn 24 whose wall is accordion-like to provide a sound outlet, the interior of the horn being in flow communication with the air passage 15. The horn 24 is shown contracted in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the ridges 26 are close together to produce a higher pitched tone and lessen the volume and is shown expanded in FIG. 1A to produce a deeper tone and increase the volume. The horn 24 is composed of a suitable material such as, for example, an opaque (black) plastic.

[0027] Received frictionally (press fit) on the stopper 12 on the other portion 28 thereof (the portion facing the cincture surface 16) is a tubular mouthpiece 30 the inner diameter of which is constant and the outer diameter of which tapers as the mouthpiece extends to the terminal (mouth receiving) end 32. The mouthpiece 30 is made of a suitable material such as, for example, a clear (see-through) plastic which may have a roughened outer surface. The mouthpiece end portion adjacent the cincture 14 has a reduced diameter defining a notch 35. The interior of the mouthpiece 30 is in flow communication with the air passage 15 so that a continuous air passage is provided through the call 10. Thus, for use of the call 10, it is held with the terminal end 32 in the user's mouth, the user then blows into it, sound is made as hereinafter discussed, and the sound exits the terminal end 34 of the horn 24.

[0028] Received within the portion 28 of the stopper 14 is a semi-cylindrical portion 36 of a sounding support or sounding board 38. The semi-cylindrical portion 36 is wedged or held in place by a semi-cylindrical wedge 40 which mates with portion 36 to form a cylindrical assembly received in stopper portion 28. The portions 36 and 40 are composed of a suitable material such as, for example, an opaque (black) plastic. An end portion 42 of a reed 44 is received and held tightly between the semi-cylindrical portions 36 and 40 as discussed more fully hereinafter. The reed 44 is composed of a suitable thin flexible material such as, for example, mylar material having a thickness of about 0.01 inch. The portion 28 has a diameter slightly greater than that of the assembly 36, 40, and 42 in order to easily receive the assembly at the entrance thereof. Beginning a small distance of, for example, about ¼ inch inwardly from the entrance to the portion 28, the bore 15 within the portion 28 is slightly tapered to wedgingly tightly receive the assembly 36, 40, and 42.

[0029] Extending from the sounding board portion 36 is an elongate sounding portion 46 which the reed 44 intermittently engages during its vibration to make wild game sounds. The sounding portion 46 comprises a thin floor portion 48 and a pair of upstanding thin wall portions 50 extending from the opposite margins, illustrated at 53, of the floor portion 48 to define an air channel, illustrated at 52, which extends through the entire length of the sounding board 38. Thus, the air channel provides continuity of the air passage 15 throughout the length of the call 10. Since the floor 48 does not extend beyond the margins 53, which define the floor width, horizontal surface, which may otherwise undesirably allow build-up over time of scale from moisture and dust and other debris with the result of the reed sticking due to the moisture, is thereby effectively eliminated.

[0030] The passage of the air channel 52 through the sounding board portion 36 defines surface, i.e., a pair of flat surfaces 56 which engage one side of the reed portion 42. A projection or knob 54 extends from each of these surfaces 56 adjacent the terminal end of the sounding board portion 36. The wedge flat surface 57, which engages the other side of the reed portion 42, has a notch 58 in each of the corners thereof in the end thereof which correspond to the terminal end of the sounding board portion 36. These notches 58 mate with and receive the projections 54 respectively to prevent movement of the wedge into the stopper 12 beyond the position of the sounding board portion 36 and to facilitate its removal along with removal of the sounding board 38.

[0031] The corners of the reed portion 42 at the terminal end thereof also have notches 60 which also mate with and receive the projections 54 respectively to prevent movement of the reed portion 42 into the stopper 12 beyond the position of the sounding board portion 36 and to facilitate its removal along with removal of the sounding board 38.

[0032] The sounding board wall portions 50 are preferably substantially parallel to each other. By “substantially parallel” is meant that the wall portions 50 may be slightly inclined toward each other over their lengths, as seen in FIG. 4. The side surfaces 51 of the wall portions 50 are preferably generally planar, as also seen in FIG. 4. As used herein and in the claims, the term “planar” is meant to refer to a surface which lies generally in a plane, as opposed, for example, to a rib formed on a thicker base member wherein the corresponding sides of the rib and base member lie in different planes. As also seen in FIG. 4, the reed 44 preferably extends width-wise beyond both of the parallel wall portions 50. For example, the distance between the wall portions may be about ¼ inch, and the width of the vibratory portion 64 of the reed 44 may vary between about ⅜ inch and {fraction (7/16)} inch. The wall portions 50 may, for example, each have a length of about 1 ⅝ inch, and the reed vibratory portion 64 may, for example, have a length of about 1 {fraction (11/16)} inch. Beginning about midway of the lengths of the parallel sounding board portions 50, the terminal end portions 62 thereof gradually curve downwardly to meet the floor portion 48 at the terminal end thereof.

[0033] The width of the free or vibratory portion 64 of the reed 44 is reduced as it extends from the portion 42 and then gradually increases in width to a width near its terminal end which is approximately equal to that of the portion 42. The reed 44 extends to slightly beyond the terminal end of the stopper portion 46 and is rounded at its terminal end.

[0034] The call 10 may be assembled by assembling the sounding board 38, reed 44, and wedge 40 with the notches 58 and 60 in mating relation with projections 54 respectively and wedgingly inserting the assembly into the stopper bore 15. The horn 24 and mouthpiece 30 are then press fit or frictionally received onto the stopper portions 22 and 28 respectively. By blowing into the mouthpiece, as illustrated by arrows 66, air passes through the air passage 15, including air channel 52 between the sounding board floor 48 and the reed 44, causing the reed 44 to vibrate, as illustrated by arrows 68, to produce a sound which is suitably conditioned in horn 24, using principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, to exit the horn, as illustrated by arrows 70, as a wild game sound.

[0035] Moisture from the user's saliva or from the atmosphere or otherwise between the reed and the sounding board surfaces which engage the reed may cause the reed to stick, reducing the quality of the sound produced. In order to prevent or at least reduce such a stickage due to moisture, in accordance with the present invention, the parallel sounding board wall portions 50 are so thin as to present edges, illustrated at 72, to engage the reed 44 and provide support against which the reed 44 vibrates, each sounding board portion 50 having a thickness, illustrated at 74, at the respective edge 72 which is considered to be insufficient to retain moisture thereon. It is considered that a thickness at each edge 72 of less than about 0.015 inch is sufficiently thin to prevent or substantially reduce such moisture build-up or stickage. For example, the thickness 74 may be about 0.013 inch. Thus, for the purpose of this specification and the claims, “edge” is defined as having a thickness which is less than about 0.015 inch. Preferably, each of the wall portions 50 is generally uniformly thin. By “uniformly thin” is meant that the thickness of a wall portion over its height and length is substantially equal to edge thickness 74.

[0036] It is believed that the major detrimental moisture build-up/stickage occurs adjacent the wedge 40, i.e., within about ⅛ inch thereof. In order to more effectively prevent such stickage due to moisture adjacent the wedge 40, in accordance with the present invention, the edges 72 (at least at the position adjacent the wedge 40) are spaced below the flat surfaces 56 of the sounding board portion 36 a distance which is illustrated at 76 in FIG. 7. In other words, the reed portion 42 is attached (wedgingly) to the sounding board portion 36 at a position which is raised above the sounding board edges 72. While a distance 76 of as little as about 0.001 will help to alleviate the moisture problem, this distance 76 is preferably at least about 0.005 inch, and should not be so great as to interfere with effective cooperation between the reed 44 and the sounding board 38 for producing sound. For example, this distance may be about 0.010 inch.

[0037] It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sound-making device comprising a sounding support including an elongate floor portion having a pair of margins defining width of said floor portion and further including a pair of wall portions extending from said margins respectively and terminating in edges respectively, an air passage defined between said wall portions, and a reed disposed to vibrate against said edges to produce sounds as air passes through said air passage.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a game call.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said wall portions is generally uniformly thin.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reed extends width-wise beyond both of said wall portions.
 5. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a housing, said reed having an end portion which is secured in said housing at a position which is raised above said edges of said sounding support wall portions.
 6. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a generally tubular housing which has a pair of end portions, the call further comprising a generally tubular mouthpiece extending from one of said housing end portions, each of said sounding support and said reed having an end portion secured in said housing, and said sounding support and said reed extending from said respective end portion into said mouthpiece.
 7. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a generally tubular housing, said sounding support further including a semi-cylindrical end portion, and the device further comprising a semi-cylindrical wedge which is shaped to mate with said sounding support end portion to wedgingly secure said sounding support end portion within said housing, and said reed having an end portion which is received between said wedge and said sounding support end portion.
 8. A sound-making device comprising a sounding support including an elongate floor portion and a pair of generally uniformly thin wall portions extending from said floor portion and terminating in edges respectively, an air passage defined between said wall portions, and a reed disposed to vibrate against said edges to produce sounds as air passes through said air passage.
 9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the device is a game call.
 10. A device according to claim 8 wherein said reed extends width-wise beyond both of said wall portions.
 11. A device according to claim 8 further comprising a housing, said reed having an end portion which is secured in said housing at a position which is raised above said edges of said sounding support wall portions.
 12. A device according to claim 8 further comprising a generally tubular housing which has a pair of end portions, the call further comprising a generally tubular mouthpiece attached to and extending from one of said housing end portions, each of said sounding support and said reed having an end portion secured in said housing, and said sounding support and said reed extending from said respective end portion into said mouthpiece.
 13. A sound-making device comprising a housing, a sounding support having a first portion which is secured in said housing and a second portion which extends from said first portion, an air passage, and a reed having an end portion which is secured in said housing, said reed disposed relative to said air passage to vibrate against said second portion of said sounding support to produce sounds, said reed end portion being secured in said housing at a position which is raised above said second portion of said sounding support.
 14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the device is a game call.
 15. A device according to claim 13 wherein said position is raised above said second portion a distance of at least about 0.005 inch.
 16. A device according to claim 13 wherein said sounding support second portion includes a pair of wall portions which terminate in edges against which said reed vibrates.
 17. A sound-making device comprising a housing having a passage therethrough for air passage through the call, a sounding support having a first portion secured in said housing passage and a second portion which extends from said first portion, a reed having an end portion which is secured in said housing and a portion which is disposed relative to said air passage to vibrate against said sounding support to produce sounds, said first portion of said sounding support have surface upon which said end portion of said reed is received, and said second portion of said sounding support being disposed below said surface.
 18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the device is a game call.
 19. A device according to claim 17 wherein said sounding support second portion is disposed below said surface a distance of at least about 0.005 inch.
 20. A device according to claim 17 wherein said housing is generally tubular and has a pair of end portions, the call further comprising a generally tubular mouthpiece extending from one of said housing end portions, said second portion of said sounding support and said reed vibratory portion extending into said mouthpiece. 